To John Thornton¹

 Fredrickburg  July 3^d [1777]

Dear Sir

Whither to impute my not meeting with you since I have been in the state to mere chance or some unlucky Genius w^h seems to prevail; not only in this instance but also in every step I have taken since I left the 3^d Reg^t, I must confess I am totally at a loss to determine.  I have been repeatedly at Fredricksburg, once at Col^o Champ’s,² and twice made a circuit of the back Country; in the course of w^h time fortune has neither thrown me in your way, or more than six men, who are willing to enter in the army, in mine.  I am very unhappy in finding myself incapable of raising a sufficient proportion of men to take the field, for altho I am not fonder of the inconveniences that attend the acting part of the army than most people, I wo^d still prefer that mode of life attended with its usual fatigue and danger to the one in w^h I at present act.  Independent of the labor, the fatigue and extravigant expense to w^h a recruiting Officer is subject, there seems to be too generally annext to the character, the Idea of Insignificancy and indolence, to make it an agreeable service.

 

The Officers of my Company & myself have in all, I believe about 15 men; and I am thoroughly convincd we shall not get another man without using those arts w^h I wo^d avoid and which no man of honor should use.  I shall however still exert myself for a month longer, at the expiration of which time if I neither have nor can get a sufficient number to command, I shall desire yours & Col^o Thruston’s permission to go to the northward with M^r Jones,³ leaving the other officers of my company still recruiting (or rather still endeavouring to recruit) as you will direct.  I am Dear Sir with the greatest respect your very affect^e humble Serv^t

Ja^s Monroe

RC, Vi-Ar: Rejected Claims: John Thornton

 

To John Thornton

 De[rb]y August 25 [1777]

 

Dear Col^o

As nothing of material importance either publickly or individually in the course of the meneuvers of ours or the Brittish army, has happen’d since my arrival at camp¹ till of late, I have designedly pospon’d giving you information of my station at Camp till I co^d convey something to you that wo^d make it more agreeable.  The good fortune which has smil’d on an enterprise of Gen^l Stark’s² against a party of the enimy at Bennington will I hope shew the effect happy and acceptable.

 

Just as Gen^l Burgoyne’s³ progress toward Albany became really serious and somewhat formidable, he has I believe rec^d a fatal check.  Great in numbers, invincible in Proclamation, havoc and desolation in his mouth and Indians who delight in ruin at his side, he advanc’d on and for a while bore down all opposition.  To make head against him he s^d wo^d be unavailing, to give him battle certain ruin and infallible death.  The next time he appears in print since the overthrow a part of his army have rec^d, the pompous Gen^l will perhaps be less presuming and declamitory:  To give you the justest Idea of the action and also to fix certainty to the report I will transcribe you G[eneral] Orders.

 

“The Commander in Chief has the happiness to inform the army of a signal victory obtain’d to the Northward.  A part of Gen^l Burgoyne’s army about 1500 in number were detatched toward New Hampshire and advanc’d with a design to possess themselves of Bennington; Brig^r Gen^l Stark of State of New Hampshire with about two thousand troops (mostly militia) attacked them.  Our troops behavd in a very brave and heroic manner.  They push’d the enimy from one work to another thrown up on advantageous ground and from different posts with spirit and fortitude untill they gain’d a compleat victory over them.  The following is a list of the prisoners, kill’d and wounded.  One L^t Col^o, one Major, five Cap^ns, 12 Lieu^t, 4 ensigns, 2 Cornets, one Judge Advocate, one Baron, 2 Canadian Officers, and 3 sergeons.  37 Brittish soldiers, 398 Hessians, 38 Canadians & 150 Tories taken prisoners.  The number of wouned fallen into our hands exclusive of the above are about 80.  The number of the enemy who were slain has not been ascertain’d but suppos’d to be about 200.  Their [Artillery] consisting of 2 Brass field pieces with a considerable quantity of baggage likewise fell into our hands.  Our is 20 or 30 kill’d and perhaps 50 wounded.”  This is literally a copy of G. O^rs.  It is believ’d it will be to B[urgoy]ne, as Trenton was to Howe.⁴

 

Yesterday the Gen^l march’d his army thro’ Phil^a in all the Pomp of military parade.  The line extended six or seven miles.  The Tories it has intirely silenc’d the timid Whigs confirmd.  I sho^d be very glad to hear from you—pray how the old Reg^t of ours.  I live very agreeably with Lord Stirling.  He unfortunately fell from his horse yesterday and hurt himself exceedingly.  A report prevaild yesterday that Fort Stanwix was not longer invested.⁵  Another also w^h was positively affirm’d by a gentleman of reputed honor that one Col^o Morgan of militia, had made a descent on Statten Island, kill’d several, taken about 70 together with one Allen,⁶ a noted Trenton Tory likewise several Field officers.  I sho^d inform you of the certainty of it only we are all confind, because of the above mention’d misfortune.  The returning to our former stations is impossible; The Gen^l says he might with equal propriety, give us that rank in any other Reg^t.  He s^d I might continue here acting with Lord Stirling till the Congress determin’d something about those Reg^ts.  If you wo^d come on to camp I doubt not you wo^d have an immediate command equal to your rank.  The Gen^l has however but few posts in his hands w^h he can dispose of.  I am Dear Col^o with great respect yours affec^y

Ja^s Monroe

 

RC, NHi: Gilder Lehrman Collection

 

 

To John Thornton

Nov^r 21. 1777.

Dear Col^o

The late inactivity of the army, the enimy quietly possess’d of Phil^a and we determin’d not to attack them, has render’d it unnecessary for me to write you.  Their repeated efforts to clear the river, their several attempts to possess themselves of Fort Mifflin, and more particularly their endeavour to storm Fort Mercer, altho’ they are not without importance have however prov’d ineffectual but in the loss of the prior Post.  That while we possess the latter will not be eminently prejudicial.  From an intire conviction of this, their maneuvres of late have principally tended to act against it.  Lord Cornwallis¹ a few days ago crossd the Delaware below the City with, as the best information we have says, about 3000 men to invest it.  Every step we take is to counteract some maneuvre of theirs; we have not force to act decisively.  The whole army was order’d under arms at 9 this morning intending to march at ten.  The order was countermanded and only Gen^l Greene’s² division march’d with a view (as Lord Stirling tells me) of crossing the Delaware with such orders as the obvious circumstance of things points out.  The Remainder of the army moves on towards the River in the morning early.  It is expected they will exert their collected force to possess themselves of that post.  We must of course collectively oppose them.  They say themselves, (we are informd) if they do not command the River they cannot continue in the City.  If they do not take fort Mercer they cannot command the River; and they are determin’d to stay in the City if possible.  So of course the fort is a capital object.  39 transports w^h sail’d from New York the beginning of this month have arrivd and join’d the rest of the fleet.  It is also said they are landing men on the Jersey Shore, we suppose to act under Cornwallis.³

 

The army under Gates⁴ have not arriv’d yet.  It is s^d they are on their way and that shortly they will be down: when a report first prevail’d that Clinton⁵ intended sending a part of his army from York the Gen^l in order to divert them order’d two Brigades down to the White Plains; this tho’ the view prov’d abortive retarded their march. Gen^l Burgoyne’s army we are told diminishes fast; they desert in numbers, to such an excess that out of several companies not one man remains.  This information seems tollerably well authenticated.  We often receive papers from the City w^h are replete with falsity and codswill.

 

Lately the attention of our Gen^l Officers has been much taken up with trying each other.  Sullivan,⁶ Wayne,⁷ Maxwell⁸ and Stevens⁹ have been severally call’d on to vindicate their Conduct.  To[day] the Commander in Chief approv’d the Sentence of a Gen^l Court Martial, by which major Gen^l Stevens was discharg’d the army.

 

The Campaign to me has been a very expensive one.  If you find it requisite tho’ a journey to Virginia will be (in point of expense) almost ruinous I will come immediately and settle with the Regiment.  The army is to me infinitely more disagreeable than ever.  I most sincerely wish that Officers of reputation wo^d continue in the service.  The principles on which the war is carried on now is intirely different from what it was at first.  Patriotism, publick spirit and disinterestedness have almost vanis’d; and honor and virtue are emty names.  Every table thro’ the line is the Theatre of calumny, and praise & approbation without some of their own favorites is the subject, is banish’d from the scene.

 

I hope to hear from you soon and believe me Dear Sir your very affectionate humble Servant.

Ja^s Monroe

RC, Vi:Ar: Rejected Claims: John Thornton